Salford children's services criticised again

BOSSES at a beleaguered children's services department were ordered to urgently check on the welfare of five youngsters after inspectors claimed they could not be sure they were safe. Ofsted said in a damning report that their officers were unable to establish whether the children were being properly monitored by Salford Council.

BOSSES at a beleaguered children's services department were ordered to urgently check on the welfare of five youngsters after inspectors claimed they could not be sure they were safe.

Ofsted said in a damning report that their officers were unable to establish whether the children were being properly monitored by Salford Council.

It is the latest blow to the council's children's services department, where chief Jill Baker has been in crunch talks about her future.

That followed the murder of Salford toddler Demi Leigh Mahon by teenager Karl McCluney after social workers had been warned `at least a dozen times' of the toddler's chaotic life and that her mother was on drugs and unable to cope.

The latest Ofsted report said: "These included cases where information had not been properly examined{hellip} or where assessments were of poor quality and did not sufficiently consider risk."

The council say that two days after the inspectors' instructions the cases were re-examined so `decisions could be properly evidenced'.

The report highlights nine areas for improvement in front line social work regarding the referral and assessment of children at risk of abuse.

It follows an unannounced inspection last month and says: "The council's strategies are not sufficiently effective in managing and prioritising risk and inspectors were unable to confirm from all case recording that the children concerned were safe."

The report also found:

The analysis of risks and needs in the assessments viewed by inspectors was poor.

The involvement of health visitors in assessments is too limited.

Child protection investigations are identified at a later stage than required by government rules.

There should be better communication with families and young people being supported.

There needs to be better reporting and recording of cases.

Inspectors will return again to the department next year.

Mrs Baker's position became uncertain after the council's chief executive, Barbara Spicer, carried out a review into Mrs Baker's decision not to discipline anyone in the wake of Demi's death. She concluded that Mrs Baker herself should go.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mary Ferrer, who has called for an independent inquiry into the case of Demi, said: "My reaction to this latest inspection is that council bosses should hang their heads in shame.

We were lead to believe that things in children's services were improving. I amazed they are so bad."

Councillor John Warmisham, the city's spokesman for children's services, said: "The inspectors have acknowledged where improvements have been made and given us a clear indication of where we need to do still more. The inspection has given me confidence that our work in improving services in this key area has been sustained and is in the right direction."